Method and apparatus for registering and timing envelope blanks and similar work pieces in the processing thereof



July 12, 1960 R. WINKLER E 2,944,812

' METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REGISTERING AND TIMING ENVELOPE BLANKS AND SIMILAR WORK PIECES IN THE PROCESSING THEREOF Fllea May 31 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Invemara [Pic/lard lflh/r/er r ffurgflwmcbler By W A t "t orney.

July 12, 1960 R. WINKLER 4 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REGISTERING AND TIMING ENVELOPE BLANKS AND SIMILAR WORK PIECES IN THE PROCESSING THEREOF s Sheets-Sh eet 2 Filed May 31, 1957 July 12, 1960 R. WINKLER E 2,944,812

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REGISTERING AND TIMING ENVELOPE BLANKS AND SIMILAR WORK PIECES IN THE PROCESSING THEREOF 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 51, 1957 5? C 0 r J mg w W W be t m t W A d U D h .ww RK July 12, 1960 R. WINKLER E METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REGISTERING AND TIMING ENVELOPE BLANKS AND SIMILAR woax PIECES IN THE PROCESSING THEREOF 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 31, 1957 Inventors L V v ffur' By M July 12, 1960 R. WINKLER ETAL 2,944,812

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REGISTERING AND TIMING ENVELOPE BLANKS AND SIMILAR WORK PIECES IN THE PROCESSING THEREOF 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 31, 1957 Inventor's r e Wm M kb 0 W A Z to resist sagging or bulging of the blanks therebetween in the transverse direction thereof.

As above stated, the invention contemplates temporarily stifiening the blanks in approximately the direction of travel between the sets of guides while the blanks are firmly retained in guided contact with the lower set of rails responsive to centrifugal force. The sets'16 and 17 of guide rails are, therefore, of arcuate form in their lengthwise direction, in that they curve about an axis of rotation of a driving means 21 by which the envelopes are mechanically aligned and advanced through the pass 18 between the sets of guide rails, after which they are regripped by a subsequent conveying and advancing means, later to be described.

' The driving means 21 comprises laterally spaced apart rotary members 22 and 23 adjustably fixed to a rotating shaft 24 that is driven in timed relation with the subsequent operating mechanisms of the envelope making machine (not shown). Each member 22 and '23 includes a hub portion 25 that is positioned on the shaft 24 by means of a key 26. Extending radially from the hubs arearms 27 with the outer terminal of each arm carrying a pin or finger 2-8. The arms 27 of each member 22 and 23 are of a length so that when the members 22 and 23 are rotated in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 1, the pins 28 move radially through the pass 18 between the upper and lower sets of guide rails 16 and 17 to engage and register the blanks 4 and to advance the blanks in curved condition through the pass in bearing contact with the inneredges of the lower guide rails, responsive to centrifugal action produced in the blanks by reason of their high speed curvilinear travel as the pins push the blanks to the gripping mechanism which holds the blanks in their registered condition as they are moved out of the pass and advanced to subsequent processing mechanisms, for example, printingrand/or gumming, folding and scoring mechanisms of a modern rotary envelope making machine, of which only one mechanism is represented in the drawing and that being one pair of scoring rolls 29 and 30, shown in Fig. 1.

The gripping means which holds the blanks in registered time relation as they move from the pass 18 comprises a suction roll 3'1 that rotates at the ends of the lower or outer set of guide rails 17 and positioned coaxially of reversely curved terminals 32 of the upper or inner set of rails 16 which act to impart a reverse curverin each blank and to guide the forward edge thereof into contact with the periphery of the suction roll 31 to be gripped thereagainst responsive to suctionl The suction is drawn through orifices 33 that are suitably located in the periphery of the suction roll. The suction is made effective in properly timed relation with the foremost portions of the blanks to be gripped and fed between the face of the suction roll and pressure wheels 34. The periphcan speed of the suction roll and pressure wheels corresponds With the peripheral speed of the pins 28 as they advance through the pass when pushing the blank therethrough. The blanks are thus gripped and advanced at the same speed that the rear portions of the blanks are being pushed by the pins 18.

vThe blanks 4 are registered by contact of the pins with the rear edges of the blanks after the blanks have entered V the foremost portion of the 'pass 18 and continue their advanceat the same linear speed when the propelling force is taken ofi, by the suction roll, Therefore, there are no strains tending to deform or tear the blanks.

.The driving members arespajced apart so that the pins, 28 engage in the notches ;35*an d '36. Thenotches define points of fold of the, flaps of the-envelopes and alsoassistzin' registry, of thejblanks when the pins .28 en ge h e n-s 1;.- a I t willbe noted that the shape of the pass. 18 :between theguide-rails constitutes an important function of applying resistance to forwardmovement of the blanks by the drivingmembers, so that the friction; whichthe envelopes encounter as they are held against the outer guide rails by centrifugal force, tends to retard forward advance of the blanks and retains the notch portions 35 and 36 thereof in contact with the pins 28, thereby assuring positive registry, since, as above stated, the driving members are operated in timed relation with the mechanisms which perform subsequent operations on the envelopes, such as the scoring rolls 29 and 30.

In the modified form of invention shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the envelope blanksare advanced in the same: manner as in the first described form, and the same de-- scription and numerals of reference are applied to the like parts, however, the driving means for pushing and registr-- ing the blanks in the pass 18 is equipped with'means for positively drawing the blanks into the entrance to the pass 18 and to hold onto the blanks until they have been completely drawn into the pass when they are freed tofloat in the pass until advanced by the pins 28, as now to be described.

Located on the shaft intermediate the rotary members 22 and 23 is a suction wheel 37 having diametrical bores 38 terminating in suction orifices 39v at the circumference of the wheel. The inner ends of the bores 38 connect with channels 40 in the shaft 24, which, in turn connect with a vacuum control valve 41 to time the intervalsduring which suction is effected through the orifices 39. The suction orifices 39 are located in the periphery of the wheel in intermediate spaced relation with the pins 28 of the rotary members 22 and 23 to eflect the positive feed of the blanks from the wheels 14 and 15 into thecurved pass 18. In this way, the forward portions of theblanks 4 are individually attached by the suction as theorifices pass the path of the blanks, at which point the vacuum is made effective in those orifices to seize and v lead the blanks into'the curved pas-s. As soon as the blanks have safely entered the pass, the suction is sus-- pended to allow positioning and aligning of the blanks in; the pass when the set of pins 28 engage the rear edge of the blank.

The modified form shown in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings is adapted for registering blanks that are previously carried singly in spaced apart relation between a plurality of guide rollers and pressure wheels 42 and 43 into position to be engaged between curved forward ends of the lowermost sets of rails 44, whereon each blank is temporarily stiffened by centrifugal force exerted in theblanks when they are gripped by suction wheel 45 at the time the suction is effective in drawing the blanks into the curved pass 46 for registry thereof by means of the pins '47 onthe periphery of the disks 48, corresponding: to the members 22 and 23 previously described. Rollers 49 and 50 are provided at the discharge end 51 of the curved pass, but rotate at a reduced rate of speed to collect and overlap the blanks when they are transported between the runs 52'and 53 of the conveyer belts 54 and 55 for further processing where it is desirable to overlap the blanks, for example, to apply sealing gum to sealing flap portions of the blanks in the forepart of an envelope making machine.

The operation of the different forms of the invention have been substantially describcd in connection with the description of the apparatus.

In Fig. 1 the envelopes are conveyed between the runs 7 and 8 of the belts 5 and 6 to the point where they run out from under the belt 6 and under the pressure wheels 16 to cooperate with the runs 7 of the belts 5 in successively presenting the foremost ends of the blanks into contact with the separating roller 12 and the pressure Wheels 13. The roller 12 being operating at a higher speed than the speed of the conveyer belts 5 and 6, withdraws the blanks one at a time for separate advancement between the pairsof Wheels 14 and 15 into the entrance of the pass 18. :Ihe'speed of the separating roller 12 is .5 tirrie;:theioremost edge ofa following blank is" engaged betwee'mthe separating roller 12 and pressure-wheels 13, as shown'in Fig. 1, so that the pins 28 on oneo'f the arms 27 of the rotors 22 and 23 pass therebetween to engage within-the notches 35 and'36 of the blank that has then entered the pass. As soon asthe rear edge of the blank'has cleared the last of the pairs of feed wheels 14 andlS, there may be a momentary lag of the blank, due to the curving contact thereof with the upper edges, of the rails 20, to permit the pins 28 to catch up therewith and continue movement of the blank through the pass in registering and timed relation with the processing mechanisms of the envelope making machine, such as the scoring means 29. and 30. {1:

The blanks are stiffened incidental to their curvature and the frictional contact with the inner edge of the lower or outermostset of guide rails by reason of, the centrifugallforce imparted therein as the blanks are moved through thepass'by the driving means 21-. Since' the blanks are stiffened, it is obvious that substantially thin, light weight materials may be used: in the formation of the envelopes, with the result that the envelope making machine may be operated at a higher speedthan with present methods of registry which have been previously described.

When a blank reaches the end ofv the pass, the curved ends 32-of the sets'of guide rails 16 guide the-blank into position to besucked into contact with the periphery of the suction roll 31 as the port 33 moves thereunder and the suction is made effective to bring :the forward" edge of the blank under the pressure wheels 34' to continue feed to subsequent processing mechanisms of the envelope making machine, as represented'by the scoring rollers.

The form of the invention shown in Figs. 3 and 4 op.- crates: in the same manner as the'form illustrated inFigs. l and 2, with the exception that when the envelope blanks pass the last of the feed rollers 14 and 15, the blanks are engaged by suction which is effected through the orifices 39 as they move into position, shown in Fig.

3. At this time, the control valve -41 establishes a suction through those orifices that arethenin contact with the blank. V By the time the blank has been pulled into the pass, the control valve has shut ofi the vacuum to release the blank in the pass. The pins 28 engage the notches in the'rear edges of the blank to continue movement of the blank through the pass as previously described in connection with the first described formof the invention.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 5, the blanks 4 are delivered separately andspaced apart to the timing mechanism by means of the wheels or rolls 4-2 and 43. In this instance, the ends of the guides are curved to facilitate directing the blank into the pass, so that it may be engaged by the suction orifices, substan tially as described in connection with the form of the invention shown in Fig. 3, until the rear edge of the blank has been engaged by the pins 47, whereupon the .movement of the blank is continued. In this instance,

the blanks are moved at the slower speed of the rollers 49 and 50 into theconveyer belts 54 and:55; so that the blanks overlap and are carried in. overlapped formation between the runs 52 and 53 of the belts 54 and 55.

From the foregoing, it is obvious that :we have provided a timing and registeringgmechanism which'will operate successfully 'onblanks formed. ofthin, light weight materials, and which may be actuated at high speed without causing the blanks to be torn or otherwise deformed by the registering mechanism. i

What we claim and desire to secure 'by Letters Patent 7 1. An, apparatus for positioning blanks 'to be processed, including-means for conveying the blanks in; overlapped relation, upper and lower curved guides providing a curved pass in receiving relation with the conveying means, means for separating the foremost blank, suction temporarily stifiening the. blank, a rotor having radially projecting pins, means supporting the rotor in coaxial relation with the curvature of said pass for carrying the pins through said pass in engagement with rear edges of the blank to advance the blank through said pass in said curvedcondition, and means for removing the blank from said pass, said lower guides providingv frictional contact with the blank to hold the} blank in contact with said pins. r 1

2. An apparatus for timing and registering blanks during movement to a processing stage, including means for conveyingthe blanks in overlapped relation, upper and lower curvedguides' providing a curved pass in receiving relation with the conveying means, means for separating the foremost blank and carrying the separated blank into the curved pass'to impart a curvature in said blank, a

rotor having radially projecting pins, means supporting the rotor'in coaxial relation with the curvature of said pass for movement of the pins through said pass for engaging rear edges of the blank and moving the blank through said pass, and means on said supporting means and-movable with the rotortocooperate with said sep .arating'means incarrying the blank into said pass.

3. :Anapparatus for timing and registering blanks during movement 'to a'processing'stage, including means for conveying the blanks, upper and lower curved guides providing 'a curved pass in receiving relation with the conveying means, means for separating the foremost blank and carrying theseparated balnk into the curved pass to impart a curvature in each blank, a rotor having blank is'contained in said pass and in position to be engaged by said pins, and meansfor removing-the blank from said pass. I a

4. Anapparatus -for timing and registering envelope blanks having notches'in edges thereof for defining points of fold including meansfor conveying the blanks with edge portions having at least two of the notches in trail- ,ing' relation on said conveying means, a pair of laterally spaced rotary members having "notch engaging means adapted to engage in said notches, inner and outer curved guides having; substantially concentric support coaxially with. therotarymembers and providing a pass having an inlet end and a discharge end, means for withdrawing the blanks successively from said conveyingmeans and carrying the blanksone at a time into said pass forcurving: the blanks and positioning the blanks for engagement by said pins in the notches to continue movement ofthe curved: blank through said pass, and means at discharge end of the passpfor gripping and withdrawing blanks from said pass.

5. Anapparatus for timing and registering blanks having' notches'for defining points of fold, including; means 7 for conveying the blanks inlapped relationwith edge-per! tions having at leastftwo of the notches intrailing rela-- tion on said conveying means, a pairlof laterally spaced bers'and spaced apartto provide a pass having an'inlet end in receiving relation with said withdrawing -means; means rotatable with the rotary membersafor engaging a forward end of'each blank from the withdrawing means to carry-the blank into saidpassforcurving the blank 7 and to position the blank for engagement by said pins in the notches to continue movement of the curved blank through said pass, and means at opposite ends of the guides for gripping and withdrawing the blank from said pass. a

6. An apparatus for positioning and timing sequence of envelope blanks to a processing stage, including substantially concentrically arranged upper and lower curved guides, means for supporting said guides in spaced apart stationary position to provide a curved pass therebetween, means for feeding the blanks individually into the curved pass, a rotor having portions spaced uniformly about the periphery thereof, and means for rotatably carrying said rotor with the spaced portions thereon projecting into and movable through the pass in the clirection of curvature for engaging rear edges of the blanks to propel the blanks in substantially free flight through the pass in spaced apart relation and to cooperate with the curvature of the lower guides to maintain engagement of the rear edges of the blanks with said projecting portions of the rotor for bringing the blanks into 'uniform position and timing while in flight through'said pass.

7. An apparatus for positioning and timing sequence of envelope blanks to a processing stage, including substantially concentrically arranged upper and lower curved guides, means for supporting said guides in spaced apart stationary position to provide a curved pass therebetween, suction means for feeding the blanks individually into the curved pass, a rotor having portions spaced uniformly about the periphery thereof, and means for rotatably carrying said rotor with the spaced portions thereon projecting into and movable through the pass in'the direction of curvature for engaging rear edges of the-blanks to propel the blanks in substantially free flight through the pass in spaced apart relation and to cooperate with the curvature of the lower guides to maintain engagement of the rear edges of the blanks with said projecting portions of the rotor for bringing the blanks into uniform position and timing while in flight through said pass.

8. An apparatus for positioning and timing sequence of envelope blanks to a processing stage, including substantially concentrically arranged upper and lower curved guides, means for supporting said guides in spaced apart stationary position to provide a curved pass therebetween, means for feeding the blanks individually into the curved pass, a rotor having portions spaced uniformlyabout the periphery thereof, means for rotatably carrying said rotor with the spaced portions thereon projecting into and movable through the pass in the direction of curvature for engaging rear edges of the blanks to propel the blanks in substantially free flight through the pass in spaced apart relation and to cooperate with the curvature of the lower guides to maintain engagement of the rear edges of the blanks with said projecting portions of the rotor for brinm'ng the blanks into uniform position and timing while in flight through said pass, and suction means carried by the rotor and cooperating with said feeding means to completely draw the blanks into the pass prior to engagement of the projecting portions of the the blanks. I

9. The method of timing sequence of envelope blanks while the blanks are moving in a continuous flight, including loosely guiding the blanks in a curvilinear stationary path, delivering the. blanks individually into, said path, applying a propelling force to each blank after entering said path, maintaining the propelling forces in timed sequence for advancing the blanks in corresponding timed sequence, and applying a retarding force on each blank responsive to curving of the blanks by the centrifugal force produced in each blank to keep each blank in contact with its propelling force. t

10. The method of timing sequence of envelope blanks while the blanks are moving in a continuous flight, i1 1- rotor with 8 cluding loosely guiding the blanks in a curvilinear stationary path, delivering the blanks individually into said path, applying a propelling force to each blank after entering said path, maintaining the propelling forces in timed sequence for advancing the blanks in corresponding timed sequence, applying a retarding force on e'ach'blank responsive to curving of the blanks by the centrifugal force produced in each blank to keep each blank in contact with its propelling force, and applying a gripping force to each blank for maintaining said timed sequenceduring continued advance of the blank to a processing stage.

11. The method of timing sequence of envelope blanks while the blanks are moving in a continuous flight, including loosely guiding the blanks in a stationary curvilinear path,delivering the blanks individually intosaid path, applying a' corresponding curvilinear propelling force only at the rear edge of each blank after the blank has fully entered said path, maintaining th'epropelling forces in timed sequence for pushing the blanks through the curvilinear path in corresponding timed sequence, and applying a retarding force on each blank responsive to curving of the blanks against said path by the centrifugal force produced in each blank to keep each blank incontact with its'propelling force.

12. The method of timing sequence of envelope blanks while the blanks are moving in a'continuous flight, including loosely guiding the blanks in a stationary curvilinear path, delivering the blanks individually into said path, gripping a foremost marginal portion of the individual blank to draw the blank completely into said curvilinear path, releasing the grip on each blank for allowing the blank to float in said path, applying a propelling force in a corresponding curvilinear direction to only the rear edge of each blank after the blank has been fully drawn into said path and the grip has been released, maintaining the propelling forces in timed'sequence for advancing the blanks in corresponding timed sequence, applying a retarding force on each blank to keep each blank in contact with its propelling force, and applying a gripping force to each blank as the blank emerges from said curvilinear path 'for maintaining said timed sequence during continued advance of the blanks to a processing stage.

'13. The method of timing sequence of envelope blanks while the blanks are moving in a continuous flight, including loosely guiding the blanks in a stationary curvilinear path, deliveringlthe blanks individually into said path, gripping a foremost marginal portion of the individual blank to draw the'blank completely into said curvilinear path, releasing the grip on each blank for allowing the blank to float in said path, applying a propelling force in a corresponding curvilinear direction to only the rear edge of each blank after the blank has been fully drawn into said path' and the grip has been released, maintaining the propelling forces in timed se quence for advancing the blanks in corresponding timed sequence, applying a retarding force on each blank responsive to curving of the blanks in said path by the centrifugal force produced in each blank to keep each blank in contact with its propelling force, and applying a gripping force to each blank as the blank emerges from said curvilinear path for maintaining said timed sequence during continued advance of the blank to a processing stage. 7

14. An apparatus as described in claim' 6 for position ing and timing sequence of envelope blanks to a processing stage, including means at the end of the pass for partially lapping the blanks forldelivery in lapped relation to the processing stage.

15. The method of timing sequence of envelope blanks while the blanks are moving in continuous flight as de'-' scribed in claim 9, and including the additional step of finally lapping'the blanks partially one upon anothen (References on following: page);

9 References Cited in the file of-thisvpatent 2,127,568 I 2,191,505 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,248,079 448,285 West Mar. 17, 1891 2 2 7 719 479,042 West July 19, 1892 5 2,457,241 1,385,468 Pflanze July 26, 1921- 2,069,397 Von Barth Feb. 2, 1937' 2,082,240 458,158

Belluche et a1. June 1, 1937 V 10 Novick 'Aug. 23, 1938 Smithe et a1. Feb. 27, 1940 Har-rold et a1. July 8, 1941 Beasley June 23, 1942 Streich Apr. 12, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Dec. 14, 1936 

